Hard-cutting Michael Flowers

Last night’s Wisconsin basketball game was another one where you can’t tell too much because the opponent was inferior. Savannah State should be playing Division II or III ball and putting the money they currently spend to maintain Division I status into academic-related endeavors. Only a couple notes:

-It’s human for basketball players to go through the motions at times when running their regular offense. God knows we did it running LeRoy Young’s flex back at West Bend East – you’re 99% sure you’re not going to get open, so the pick isn’t set as hard and the cut isn’t made as hard. Perhaps it was this lack of execution that held us back. Maybe it was lack of talent. Maybe lack of coaching.

Anyway, you can even see that creep into the Badgers as they run Bo Ryan’s flex – a good offense with good players and well-coached, but sometimes it seems like they’re just trying to get to a spot without a purpose. The thing about last night’s game that stuck out most was just how hard Michael Flowers makes his cuts. Several times Flowers went hard on the baseline, got himself open on the block, and his teammates actually got it to him; they seemed surprised he was open.

I don’t think Mike scored on any of these exchanges, but the effort and execution impressed me. It reminded me of how Devin Harris used to get open on the block back in his heyday. Keep it up buddy.

-Greg Stiemsma needs to dunk the damn ball when he’s one foot from the hoop. Last night he had several attempts from in close go awry when he tried to lay it in. Go up hard and attack the rim big guy! He had a good game, though, with 10 points, eight boards, four assists. He also seems to be trying to develop a left hand, although he didn’t convert with it last night.

-That’s one thing Jon Leuer has done so far, go hard at the rim and dunk. The young man needs to make his free throws, though, he missed the front end of two one-and-ones last night.

-Marcus Landry isn’t scoring much yet, but he had four blocks.

-Brian Butch seems comfortable with a go-to role. He’s calling for the ball and had 12 points, 10 boards, although he was only 4-of-12 from the field.

-Another really nice game for Trevon Hughes with 21 points. My one critique of him is that he’s flopping too much on defense, and he even did once on offense.

-Tim Jarmusz played three minutes, meaning he won’t redshirt. From my viewpoint, bad decision, he doesn’t look ready to contribute this year, but we are pretty thin at guard so if injuries happen he might be pressed into action.